Ministry Passes Out Fans To People Without AC

The Rev. Ronal King almost never stops moving, even when he should. The long-time Rock Hill pastor helps people in need, until it hurts.

Last month, he spent six days in the hospital after suffering heat stroke. He said he was helping a woman move furniture. She'd just been evicted and had no place to go.

“It was a 106 heat index that day," King said.

On Friday, he was back out in the heat again, going door to door delivering box fans to people who struggle with the hot weather, even though they’re indoors.

"God bless you, c'mon out here!" he said to a woman on Green Street, in an impoverished older neighborhood in the south end of Rock Hill.

"You can be cool all the time now," he said, carrying a fan inside her home.

Many of the homes he delivers to are baking-hot inside. Some families have central air, but don't use it anymore because they can't afford the monthly bill. That's the story with Cleveland Kirk.

“I'm going to put out these fans," he said, holding one under each arm. “I can't afford the air conditioning no more so I'm going to use the fans."

Many others don't have the comfort of air conditioning at all. The temperature inside their homes is unbearable. They spend most of their time sitting outside on the porch where at least there's an occasional breeze.

"It's 90-something inside there. It's hot," said Sylvia Mobley, who lives on Green Street. When King pulled up with a truckload of new fans, she said she was thrilled.

“It's just a blessing. It'll help keep the grandchildren cool," she said.

Until Friday, King had no fans to distribute. His widely known ministry, Christians Feed the Hungry, has done this kind of work before, but this year, he said donations dried up.

"We're in a desperate need for fans. We took a temperature gauge inside these houses, and found that the average temperature was 85 degrees," he said.

After recovering from extreme weakness after the heat stroke, he said he knows what existing in this dangerous summer weather can do.

"You get to where you can't eat, can't sleep, can't do anything," he said.

King went on the radio Thursday with Channel 9’s news partner WRHI in Rock Hill asking for help. Some listeners stepped up quickly, including Matt Sy.

Sy, with Comfort Systems Heating and Air, bought out every box fan at Lowe's -- 48 of them -- and dropped them off at the radio station on Friday morning.

"I know it's not the same as a brand-new heating and air system, but it's what we can do for the community," Sy said. “So, hopefully it gives them a little bit of relief."

King said the lieutenant governor's office also responded to the plea on the radio and is planning to buy 500 fans to help his ministry, and others statewide.

If you'd like to help, you can call King on his cell phone at 803-417-3881. Christians Feed the Hungry is a nonprofit organization, so all donations are tax-deductible.